Javier Corvalán designed this windowless Caja Oscura home, which looks a little bit like a giant Pac-man! Inspired by camera obscuras (which project an inverted picture of the surrounding environment) the tilting house is manually operated with a hand winch and opens to a 25 degree angle. This creates a shaded porch area that is well-ventilated - a welcome aspect to any home in sultry Paraguay.

Located roughly 15km outside of central Asunción, the tiny home has a footprint of just 85 square meters. The base consists of concrete and locally-sourced stone, a cantilevering stone staircase leads to the upper story, where the kitchen and living room are located, and a metal box of galvanized steel and thermal insulation encloses the entire volume.

In part the windowless box protects the home from vandals, as the owners are away for long stretches at a time, but it also slashed construction costs on a limited €20,000 budget; mostly, however, it’s a design statement that pays tribute to the owner’s profession. The tipping crown is operated with a manual winch and held in place with rod ties. In addition to promoting natural ventilation, the tilt opens the tiny home up to the surrounding landscape, which has been left deliberately wild and free.